Canon Powershot A3300 IS compact digital camera

Priced just under £150, this small camera is at the high end of Canon's beginner-friendly ‘A' series. It has a robust metal body and a stylish appearance.

Less of a surprise is that, like many cameras, it can shoot high-definition video at the resolution of 720p, as well as 16-megapixel photos. Both are now expected even on a pocket camera, as is the large 3in screen that we found sufficiently large and clear for composing and reviewing pictures.

The ‘IS' in the name indicates image stabilisation, which supports the 5x optical zoom lens and which works to prevent the blur that results from hand wobble. The camera was responsive, powering up in less than two seconds, and the lens extended from its retracted position to the wide-angle setting. Unfortunately the zoom can't be used when recording video – Canon disables it in this mode due to the buzz of its mechanics that would otherwise come through on the video.

They're weren't many options – a Smart Auto mode ably recognised common scenes and subjects by comparing them with 32 preset scene modes, and set the camera accordingly. Furthermore there is an Easy mode that removes most of the settings and on-screen icons to make picture-taking even more straightforward.

In addition, on-screen prompts and tips when we made various selections will give users the confidence to pick it and start shooting immediately. To stave off boredom, six fully automatic effects filters are provided including the now-common ‘miniature' mode, which narrows the portion of the image in focus so it looks like you're shooting a toy model. This can be used for video as well. There are also pinhole camera, super vivid colour and perspective-warping fish-eye modes.

We made more use of the new Live View control in which contrast, brightness and colour can be adjusted by dragging a simple on-screen slider. It cleverly introduces the idea of taking control over your pictures, but in good, small steps.

Images from the Canon were bright, clear and evenly exposed. In fact they were some of the best we've seen from an entry-level camera that isn't a Nikon. The A3300 is a safe camera for first-time users – cheap but reliable.